Fire boss shuts down Barnaby Joyce

by Rohan Smith

8th Jan 2020 9:47 AM

IT'S back to square for Barnaby Joyce's wild theories about what - or who - contributed to Australia's bushfire crisis.

The former Nationals leader and one-time deputy PM has been vocal about what he calls "green caveats" - basically red tape he believes inhibited the ability of firefighters to hazard reduction burn prior to this season's bushfires.

His theory is that fuel was allowed to build up in bushland because environmental groups were making it difficult for firefighters to conduct annual burn-offs.

He told Sunrise this morning: "I believe, and this is my opinion, there are too many caveats that have been placed on people, let's call them 'green caveats', that impede people's capacities to fight fires."

NSW RFS boss Shane Fitzsimmons has rejected Barnaby Joyce's theory about what contributed to the fires.

It was an opinion the boss of the NSW Rural Fire Service was quick to shut down.

Shane Fitzsimmons told the program that while hazard reduction burning is part of a "really complex argument", "environmental clearances are invariably not our problem with hazard reduction burning".

"Our biggest challenge with hazard reduction is the weather and the windows available to do it safely and effectively," Mr Fitzsimmons said.

"Sure, there's environmental and other checks to go through but we streamline those. There's special legislation to give us clearance and to cut through what would otherwise be a very complex environment."